Storm Add Horn, Announce Trades

KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm head coach and general manager Josh Hauge announced the club will add forward Christian Horn to the roster for the remainder of the 2013-14 season on Thursday.

Horn started his season as a redshirt freshman at the University of Minnesota but decided to leave the team to play in the USHL. He will give the Storm added depth and talent as a forward with collegiate hockey experience.

“I think he’s going to bring a high level of skill,” Hauge said. “He is extremely excited to play and is going to bring a lot of energy right away. I think he’ll be a leader and a guy that can score some big goals for us. He’s been practicing and playing every day with unbelievable hockey players so he’s going to be prepared.”

The Plymouth, Minn. native played his high school hockey at Benilde St. Margaret’s with Storm forward Dan Labosky, winning a Minnesota state class AA title in 2012. Horn served as the team captain and finished school with team records for career points (207) and assists (127).

After a 4-0-0 start to their season, Minnesota is currently ranked No. 1 in both major college hockey polls.

The move, similar to one the Storm made last season to add Trevor Mingoia from Union College, comes exactly one year to the day that Hauge brought in the talented forward. Mingoia played in 43 games last season with the Storm, scoring 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points. He is now a member of the Providence College Friars.

Hauge also announced three trades as corresponding moves with the addition of Horn.

Tri-City has traded a fifth round draft pick in the 2014 Phase I Draft for defenseman Sean Lang of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Lang played in nine games for the Jacks this year, registering four assists, 10 shots and four penalty minutes.

The blueliner is a native of Apple Valley, Minn., and spent last season with Coulee Region in the North American Hockey League. With Coulee, Lang played in 55 games, scoring seven goals and assisting on 14 others. He also had 40 penalty minutes and finished the season with a +6 rating.

The Storm have also traded forward Robbie Payne to the Chicago Steel in exchange for future considerations. Payne had an assist and 20 shots on goal in five games with Tri-City this season.

Finally, the Storm have dealt defenseman Thomas Delaney to the Minnesota Magicians of the NAHL for undisclosed compensation. Delaney played in seven games with Tri-City this season. He didn’t register a point, but had two fighting majors and 18 penalty minutes along with five shots on goal.

“Sean is a defenseman who is going to round out our defensive core,” Hauge said. He can be dependable and move pucks. We wish Robbie and Thomas the best; they’re both great people and I hope they have a lot of success in the future.”

Horn and Lang are expected to join the team on Thursday for practice and will be available to play when Tri-City hits the road this weekend.

The Storm will be in Lincoln to face the Stars on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The team will then make the short trip to play the Omaha Lancers on Saturday night at the Ralston Arena, also at 7:05 p.m.

The Storm are back in Kearney on Wednesday, October 30 to face Waterloo on Zombie Night at the Viaero Event Center. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m.